Sports broadcaster Greg Gumbel, widely known for calling some of the biggest college and basketball games on popular US media networks, died on Friday (December 27) at his residence in Florida, aged 78. Mr Gumbel's death was confirmed by his family in a social media broadcast. media report released by CBS Sports, where he worked since 1989. According to reports, he had been diagnosed with cancer.
With a career spanning more than 50 years, Mr. Gumbel was a pioneer in sports broadcasting. He was also the first black commentator to call play-by-play of a major sports championship when he worked for CBS on Super Bowl XXXV.
“He leaves behind a legacy of love, inspiration and dedication for more than 50 extraordinary years in the sports broadcasting industry; and his iconic voice will never be forgotten,” his wife Marcy Gumbel and daughter Michelle Gumbel said in a statement.
A statement from CBS Sports regarding the passing of Greg Gumbel pic.twitter.com/Bp4ixu7mWB
— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) December 27, 2024
The responses are pouring in
David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, paid glowing tribute to Mr. Gumbel, who worked with the network for two stints.
“A tremendous broadcaster and gifted storyteller, Greg led one of the most remarkable and groundbreaking sports broadcasting careers of all time,” said Mr. Berson.
Social media users also shared some fond memories of Mr Gumbel and lamented that they would no longer be able to hear the booming voice in the comments section.
“Selection Sundays will never be the same! RIP Mr. Gumbel,” said one user, while another added, “I had absolutely no idea how hard this would hit me.”
A third commented: “So incredibly sad. So many March Madness memories of him. On a side note, I had no idea he was 78. The dude looked 20 years younger.”
TEAR @NFLonCBS @CBSSportsNet _ @cbsncatourney best voice of all time Greg Gumbel_I'm so happy to see him calling the best games ever, he's always the voice of CBS Sports, his legacy lasts forever, thank you for the great 50 years, you're truly miss RIP Sport ICON 🙏🙏 🙏 pic.twitter.com/1AU3fqnXhj
—James F. Roets Jr. (@f_roets93142) December 28, 2024
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Mr. Gumbel was born on May 3, 1946 in New Orleans, but grew up in Chicago and graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1967 with a degree in English. He got his first gig as an announcer in the early 1970s at Channel 5, where he was tasked with broadcasting a high school basketball game every Saturday.
His career took off in the 1980s when he covered the National Basketball Association before calling his first NFL game in 1988. During his decades-long career, he won local Emmy Awards and received the 2007 Pat Summerall Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting. .